ee 2 Jim Chliboyko

he student members
of the Douglas
College Board have

polled DC students for their
opinions on gambling. Board
members Jaimie McEvoy and
Chantelle Desharnais found
students were heavily in
favour of adopting TV Bingo
as a means of funding for
Douglas College.

The survey handout
summarized the funding
issue before asking the
question: “The Douglas
College Foundation, the
fundraising arm of the
college, has requested advice
from the College Board on

News
Student Board reps study bingo

the advisability of being
involved in TV Bingo asa
means of raising funds for
the college. Bingo cards
would be sold in stores and
the bingo game would be
broadcast on television,
similar to what is done with
Lotto 649, etc.”

“Some feel that these new
funds could be a benefit to
the college, others do not
wish the college to be
associated with a gambling
activity.”

The poll, according to
McEvoy and Desharnais,
was conducted “in our
classes, library, cafeteria.”

McEvoy and Desharnais
also collected the students’

comments, both pro and con.
All were anonymous.

Among the comments in
favour:

“Money is money—we
students need all we can
get!”

“| think that the college is
just like a hospital. Since
Royal Columbia Hospital has
had similar activities before,
the college may also perform
these activities.”

“Get some blackjack tables
as well.”

“] think that they can have
their free choice of playing
the games or not; therefore, I
think it’s ok to have that.”

“In these tough economic
times, filled with govern-

ment cutbacks, I believe
colleges and other post
secondary institutions
should be run as a business
with the goal of survivial
and giving its customers the
best possible products. This
may include activities such
as stated above [TV Bingo]!”

“If it goes through, get
some heating for the con-
course!!”

“We need more $ for our
college—technology is
lacking.”

“If it lowers tuition and
book costs, go for it.”

“If it will help in having a
better selection in Summer
course selecion. I don’t see a
problem in this, as long as it

benefits the students’
education.”

Among the comments
opposed:

“I don’t feel an educational
institution such as a college
should use gambling as a
means of fundraising. What
about research, and looking
for support from companies,
something that will give
students experience and
valuable skills.”

“There are other ways to
raise funds.”

“Gambling is an addic-
tion—and as a student I
could not promote this
activity and furthermore,
what would be the cost for
these funds, would freedom

Federal budget: mixed results for students

 

by Stu Clark

OTTAWA (CUP) — The Liberal government's pre-election
budget is good news for students, but does little to solve
Canada’s lagging unemployment problem, says the coun-

s top student leader.
he budget’s main
proposal for long-
term job creation —

consists of making post
secondary education more
affordable and increasing
funding for research and
development.

Starting next year, the
education tax credit for full-
time students will jump
from $100 to $150 per month.
The credit will increase to
$200 per month in 1998. The
government will also extend
the existing tuition tax credit
to include all mandatory fees
charged by universities—
except student association
fees.

The change will increase
student tax credits by more
than 30%, according to the
Ministry of Finance.

As well as increased tax
credits, students will get a
longer interest-free grace
period after graduation,
before they have to start
paying off their student
loans. The grace period
increases to three years from
18 months.

While the tax credits are
good news for students, they
won’t do much to bring
down Canada’s nearly ten
percent unemployment rate
or its 17% youth unemploy-
ment rate, says Brad
Lavigne, national chair of
the Canadian Federation of
Students.

“It’s much better than
their previous three budg-
ets,” said a visibly pleased
Lavigne of the Liberal’s
financial plan. Lavigne and
the CFS have spent the last
three years in a non-stop war
of words with the Liberals
over cuts to education
spending.

While this budget still
leaves the government
paying billions of dollars
less for education than
before the Liberals took
office, Lavinge is pleased
Martin has stopped his fiscal
assault on social programs.

“It’s not going to help
stem the cuts from the last
three budgets or create jobs,
but it will provide some
short-term relief for students
who are already in the
system.”

Lavigne is also pleased
with Liberal plans to spend
$800-million improving
research facilities at post
secondary institutions and
affiliated hospitals.

"That money will goa
long way to reinvest in our
research and development
infrastructure,” he said,
adding the commitment to
research has to be a long-
term strategy to be success-
ful.

In his budget speech,
Martin credited low interest
rates for improving the
economy, and said contin-

ued low interest rates will
eventually lead to job
creation.

But critics were quick to
point out the budget doesn’t
promise to keep interest
rates low and it doesn’t
address the Liberal’s policy
on inflation—a policy that
has been criticized for
driving interest rates up to
artificially high levels.

The budget, expected to be
the Liberal’s last before an
election this spring, shows
the government doesn’t
know how to create jobs, say
labour leaders and members
of the opposition. Both
Preston Manning and Jean
Charest said they look
forward to fighting the
Liberals on job creation.

“On the jobs front,
Canadians are not further
ahead—they are further
behind,” Manning told a
throng of reporters.

Canadian Labour Con-
gress president Bob White
says Martin missed an
opportunity to show
Canadians he is serious
about helping the unem-
ployed.

“The reality is there
should not be dancing in the
streets—this is not a good
news budget,” the promi-
nent union boss said.

“They promised people
that jobs would be the
number ore issue, they said
they would get at the deficit
by creating jobs, but we have
almost as many people
unemployed as we had
when the Liberals were
elected.

2 Ok Oe ee A He He
Post secondary education played a large role in Paul
Martin’s federal budget.

Some highlights:

credits to future years.

oo Os Oe Oe OS ee Oe ee ee ee ee ee

Bs

ee

a2

Ya win some,
ya lose some.

The Douglas College men’s

volleyball team captured gold at

the Provincial tournament at

Malaspina this weekend. They're

off to Quebec for nationals.

The women fought hard, but in
the end, they just couldn't make
it past powerhouse Malaspina,
who were undefeated in regular
season play. They come back to

Douglas with silver, which is
still pretty darn good.

For scores and the story, read

next week's exciting instalment

of the Other Press.

Eric Milner Photos

 

 

Douglas takes
y Jim Chliboyko &
Holly Keyes

accination clinics

were set up at

Douglas College’s
three campuses this past
week, and the timing could
have been just a little better:
the number of BC students
diagnosed with the measles
has increased to 154, includ-

 

 

We've been hit!

 

 

two uppercuts

ing two Douglas College
students, according to

spread to other in
as well: one student at
Kwantlen, three UBC
students, and one at Vancou-
ver College. Not just post
secondary institutions have
had to deal with the virus.
One preschool student and

x

  
 
  
 

remain at SFU. According to
Millar, 70-80% of Simon
Fraser students have been
vaccinated in their drive,
which still continues.

 

 

 

 

to $150 per month. It will

 

* Education tax credit for full-time students will increase from $100
‘© up to $200 per month in 1998.

* Tuition tax credit now includes all mandatory fees charged by
universities and colleges except student association fees.

* Students can now carry forward all unused portions of these tax

* The interest-free grace period on student loans was extended from
18 months to three years.
* The annual maximum contribution to Registered Education Savings
Plans was doubled to $4000.
* The government will create the Canadian Foundation for Innova-

eae independent body charged with renewing research facilities

ost secondary institutions and affili
{ 2 Se Se Se Se ee ee ee

ted h

 

   

ad

®

  
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
    
  
     
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
     
   
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  

of expression be sold out to
the bureaucrats that control
the bingo funds, eg, progra
courses that they would or
would not be willing to fun

“There are better ways to
raise money. Where exactly
does the money go anyways
This should be clearer if you
want people to vote?”

“Redistribute funds that
are used to pay for adminis-
trative framework.”

And lastly, the cryptic
comment, “A really good
slice of pie has no need for
chiffon.”

; ES SS a

itals.

 

4 February 241997 The Other Press